Askam Win Dave Southam Memorial Tournament!

Askam Village School have won the Dave Southam Memorial Shield for the first time, following the annual competition which saw the top four Primary Schools for table-tennis in the area competing against one another.

Askam, St. Columba, Holy Family and Dane Ghyll all played a round-robin competition which saw each school producing some fine table-tennis. Askam defeated both Holy Family and Roose, but the crunch match was against St. Columba. This was a classic, and Askam emerged as winners by one end. For Askam, Emily Bolton was undefeated, and Luke Walker lost just one match all day- losing out to the Holy Family Number 1. Ryan Clegg and Bradley Baxter both played well, and picked up some good wins.

Dave Southam was a popular table-tennis player, who also excelled at other sports such as tennis in his time. He gave up a lot of his free time to help coach youngsters, and is a much-missed member of the town.

The victory caps a successful season for the school, which saw the girls' team reach the National Final and the school producing County Champions in both the boys and girls individual events- a fine achievement.

Askam Pupils Participate in Cumbria Youth Games

Askam were invited to participate in the Cumbria Youth Games on Saturday 5th. July in Carlisle. The school were entered in three events, and this in itself caused some problems, as children who would normally play in one event were unavailable as they were playing in another. However, it is an honour to be chosen to play in these games, and Mr. Cairns does not think that any other school on the day were represented in three different sports.

The weather was not kind! It poured down with rain for much of the day, but Mr. Cairns was pleased that the spirit of the competitors remained high.

The Tag Rugby team consisted of Ryan Cl., Ryan Co, Cameron, Luke W., Declan, Sophie Se. and Madeline. This was Tag Rugby League, and the players had to quickly adjust to the strict rules of the game. Askam lost their first matches, then drew 6-6. They finished with an excellent win after being 3-0 down. Declan scored the try with seconds to spare. The team played very well, and it should be noted that some of their opponents were not from a school as such, but a chosen squad from an area. This can make quite a difference! Well done to all the players, and a big, big thank you to Mr. Jackson and all the parents who travelled and supported.

The Girls' Football team actually did better than the results table would suggest. Although they did not win any of their matches (the team was without their Captain), the girls played well and impressed. The team consisted of three Year 4s, and a Year 5, together with three Year 6s, so were probably the youngest team on the day. Askam did not score, but had a number of chances. Their best performance came in their game which finished 0-0. Everyone played well. Mr. Cairns was particularly impressed with Danika who seems to have come on in leaps and bounds. Congratulations to Tamara, Sophie So., Amy, Danika, Katie, Sharna and Leah. Thanks to the parents who travelled and supported and thank you to Tamara who played with minimal notice.

Emily, Dayle and Alex B. were representing their school and the Dowdales Cluster and indeed Barrow in Indoor Athletics. They were looked after by Mrs. Cook. She told Mr. Cairns that she was impressed with the performances from all three Askam pupils, who competed in a range of events in the main hall at the Sands Centre. They were fortunate enough to be inside! Well done to the three children, and special thanks to Alex who stepped in at very short notice. Again, thanks to the travelling support!    

Askam Girls Share Shield

Another final, another shield. The girls' football squad added to their impressive tally for the year, scooping their fourth trophy of the season as joint-winners of the St. Columba / Askam Invitational shield.

This was held on a lovely Summer's afternoon at Askam on Friday 4th. July. Five teams entered- two from Askam, two from St. Columba and one from George Romney.

Askam's ‘A’ team got off to a great start by defeating George Romney 1-0. The goal came from Emily. Their next match was a 0-0 stalemate against St. Columba. Askam struggled at first against St. Columba ‘B’, but eventually got the goal their possession deserved, through Allie. Askam went on to beat their ‘B’ team rivals 1-0. This gave the team ten points out of a possible twelve. George Romney had lost two matches, but beaten both the ‘B’ teams, so they finished on six points. St. Columba had won three matches and drawn one, also giving them ten points. With an identical goal-difference for the ‘A’ team matches, this meant the first place position was a tie. It was agreed to share the shield. It is the eight time in fourteen years Askam have secured their name on the shield. Well done to Tamara (who did a great job substituting for Hannah), Leah, Allie, Amy, Danika, Emily, Sophie So., Rebecca and Sharna.

The ‘B’ team consisted of several players making their debut appearance for school. This is always most pleasing, so a special mention to Ellie, Georgia, Araminta, Mia and Abigail. Sophie Se. has played for Duddon, but not for school at football before, so well done to her too. Laura, Jade F. and Jordann were also in the squad. Everyone played well. The girls lost their first four matches, but ended with a flourish, playing brilliantly to defeat St. Columba ‘B’ 1-0.

Congratulations to all the girls.

Year Four Race to Victory!

The inaugural Year 4 Indoor Athletics Championships for the Dowdales cluster schools, ended with victory for Askam Village School, following a great performance from fifteen pupils. The competition was held in the main gym at Dowdales on Wednesday 25th. June.

Mr. Cairns does not have individual results to hand, but he does know that every child performed to a high standard and tried really hard for school. Each pupil contributed towards the success of the school. In the end, Askam won by some considerable margin. The children had practised hard, and Mr. Cairns ensured each pupil was in his / her strongest events.

Rhianna C. did the Obstacle Relay, the 4x1 Lap Relay, the Speed Bounce and the Standing Long Jump. Jumping is a strength of Rhianna's- she has great technique. Katie M. represented her school in the Obstacle Relay, the 1+1 Lap Relay, the Speed Bounce and the Standing Long Jump. Mr. Cairns knows that Katie practised the Speed Bounce to perfect her technique. Katie's a very fast runner. Leah J. did the 4 x 1 Lap Relay, and used her physical strength well in the Chest Push and the Soft Javelin. Sharna H. competed in the Obstacle Relay, the 2+2 Lap Relay, the Soft Javelin and the Standing Triple Jump. Sharna is also very sporty. Her javelin technique was particularly good. Eleanor H. was very fast indeed in the 2+2 Lap Relay and the 4x1 Lap Relay. She also did well in the Vertical Jump and the Chest Push. Georgia S. competed in the Obstacle Relay (no problem for her doing the forward roll!) and she also did well in the Standing Triple Jump and the Vertical Jump. Mr. Cairns remembered Kimberley W.'s sister, Shannon, was fast, so made enquiries about Kimberley. She impressed him with her speed, so was chosen to compete in the 1+1 Lap Relay and the 4x1 Lap Relay. Kimberley ran very well.

Luke R. did the Obstacle Relay, the 2+2 Lap Relay, the Chest Push and the Speed Bounce. Luke showed good strength with is Chest Pushes. Daniel D. did well in the 1+1 Lap Relay and the 4x1 Lap Relay, together with the Vertical Jump. Brandon W. put his strength to excellent use, with a winning display in the Chest Push and showing good technique in the Javelin. Kyle ran very well in the Obstacle Relay having quickly learnt how to do a forward roll with Mr. Cairns earlier that day! He showed good technique in the Javelin as well. Jordan E. represented school in the 1+1 Lap Relay, the 4x1 Lap Relay and the Standing Long Jump. Jordan impressed. It quickly became apparent to Mr. Cairns that Alex was good at jumping during practices, so it was no surprise that he was entered for the Standing Triple Jump (which he picked up very quickly) and the Vertical Jump, together with the Obstacle Relay. He did very well in all his events. Jake S. is something of a speed machine, so it was natural for him to take part in the 2+2 Lap Relay and the 4x1 Lap Relay, together with the Speed Bounce. Jake also impressed. Finally, another Jake. This time, Jake G. Jake showed Mr. Cairns in practices that he was a talented jumper, so it was natural that he should do the Standing Triple Jump and the Standing Long Jump. He performed well in both of these, as well as both the Obstacle Relay and the 4x1 Lap Relay.

Askam were competing against the likes of Dalton St. Mary's, George Romney, Newton and Lindal and Marton School. All the children, together with the parents and Mr. Cairns, were very happy when the results were announced.

Askam now progress to the Barrow Schools' Finals which will probably be held at the Sixth Form College in Barrow in November, when all the above pupils will be in Year 5. They will represent the Dowdales Cluster, and will be competing against the winning schools from the St. Bernards, Thorncliffe, Alfred Barrow, Parkview and Walney clusters.

Thank you to Mrs. Winter and Mrs. Cook. Thanks also to the Dowdales Year 10 pupils. Mr. Cairns would like to thank the parents who transported the children. Congratulations to all the Year 4 pupils from Askam Village School for doing so well. The school is very proud of you all.       

Success for Swimmers!

Nine Askam Swimmers swam for school in the Annual Barrow and District Primary Schools' Annual Gala, held at the pool at Park Leisure Centre on Wednesday 25th. June. The nine pupils, five boys and four girls, had qualified courtesy of winning through the heats in May.

The first event which Askam were involved in was the Girls' Medley Relay. Here, Courtney, Niamh, Amy and Rebecca swam very well to finish third overall (1.26:97). Luke R. did well to finish in fourth place in the Year 4 Boys' Freestyle event (19.11). Courtney S. impressed by finishing in fifth in the Year 5 Girls' Backstroke (24.82). Luke R. was in action again straight afterwards, this time in the Open Butterfly event. Luke was sixth (21.55), but deserves great credit as he was competing against boys many of whom were two years older than him. Niamh was the girls' representative from school in the Open Butterfly, and she swam well to finish third (17.95). Unfortunately, Dominic, who had qualified for the Year Six Boys' Freestyle was on holiday and unable to take up his place in the competition. However, Amy M. was certainly there, and she was the Year Six Girls' representative in the 50 metres Freestyle. She swam well to finish fourth (43.47). Niamh was in action again shortly afterwards, this time in the Year Six Girls' Breaststroke event. Great credit to Niamh, who battled all the way, just losing out by a whisker to finish in second place (47.59).

The highlight of the gala came with two victories in two successive races, the first being Bradley K.'s masterly performance in the Year Six boys' backstroke. Bradley powered home to win by a comfortable margin, finishing with a great time of 40.56. This means that Bradley is the best boys' 50 metre backstroke swimmer in the Barrow area. This is a real achievement, so very well done to him!

There must be something about the Backstroke event and Askam pupils, because Rebecca R. replicated Bradley's success, with a stunning performance in the Girls' 50 metres backstroke. Rebecca swam a great race, and as well as receiving a medal for finishing first (38.66)- by a sizeable margin- she was presented with a special memorial trophy. I know Rebecca treasures this, as she has been researching the history of the person whose name appears on the trophy. It dates back to 1967, quite a few years before even Mr. Cairns was born! Well done to Rebecca- the top 50 metre Backstroke girl in the Barrow area!

Askam were involved in two more races, the first of which was the Boys' Freestyle event. This saw Jack N., Bradley K., Ryan Cl. and Luke W. representing their school. The competition was particularly tough. The boys finished in sixth, but swam very well indeed, and did exceptionally well to qualify for the final in the first place. Jack was an excellent substitution for Dominic who was away.

The girls swam their final race immediately afterwards. Rebecca, Amy, Courtney and Niamh put on a great display to finish third overall. There was more good news for the girls when it was announced that they finished in second place overall in the Winter League. Well done to Rebecca, Niamh, Amy, Dayle, Courtney and Emily, all of whom represented school during at least one "fixture".

Mr. Cairns would like to thank Mrs. Kavanagh for her help, and all the parents who transported children. Very well done to all the children above- just getting to the final is a real achievement in itself. Congratulations to everyone.    

Athletes Strike Gold at Walney

Athletes from Askam Village School were in top form during the Annual Barrow Schools' Athletics Finals, held at Walney School on Tuesday 24th. June. Fourteen pupils represented their school in this popular event, which last year was cancelled completely after numerous failed attempts due to wet weather.

Rebecca L. from Year 5 was in the very first race. She got the school off to a great start, by winning her heat in the Year 5 Girls 70 metres. Rebecca ran extremely well, and qualified for the final, where she finished an impressive fifth. Kailym S., also from Year 5, ran well in the 70 metres boys' event, crossing the line in fifth place.

Niamh J. from Year 6, was the class representative after being virtually inseparable from her classmate Danika. It took three races to separate them after two dead-heats. In the event, Niamh justified her selection, running to a high standard and completing the heat in second place. In the final, Niamh was up against the top four from the other two heats. She ran very well to finish fifth.

Classmate Declan T., known for his running prowess, powered home in first place in his heat. Declan was in the 70 metres boys race for Year 6. In the final, Declan was in complete control. He demonstrated perfect running technique. Declan finished as the overall winner, meaning that out of the eighteen schools present, there was no faster runner. Special congratulations to Declan!

Next came the 150 metre races, beginning with Rachel S. representing school in the Year 5 Girls' race. Rachel impressed, and finished in fourth place. This was identical to Josh B., who was in the equivalent boys' event. Josh also showed good speed and technique. In the Year Six 150 metres, Allie just missed out on a place in the final, after running very well to finish third in her heat. Bradley K. went one better. He ran very well to come home in second place, thus qualifying for the final where he finished in ? place (will add).

The final track events were the 600 metre finals. The Year 5 Girls' race was first. Here, Emily B. was representing her school. Fresh from her Sports Day success in the Long Distance and being Girls' Champion (with a record time), she was always going to be a strong contender in this race. It was no surprise then to see her taking a commanding lead, and crossing the line comfortably in first place. Very well done to Emily- the top distance runner for her age in the competition.

Kai A. from Year 5 also ran very well. He finished a highly creditable fourth out of twelve. Kai demonstrated plenty of physical fitness and good technique, so well done to him.

Sophie S. was very much looking forward to her 600 metres final. She does a lot of running out of school, and it is a real strength of hers. Sophie was always going to be a favourite for this race. She paced herself well, and knew when to accelerate to go ahead of the pack. Her physical fitness ensured she lasted the duration of the race, and Sophie became champion by a sizeable margin. Very well done to Sophie- an excellent race! Sophie was the top runner in this event.

The last race saw Luke W. from Year 6 in the 600 metres. Luke is also a very strong runner, and this was an exciting race from start to finish. Luke ran extremely well to finish second out of thirteen runners, and he was presented with a silver medal. Well done to Luke!

Meanwhile, while all this was taking place, a Long Jump competition was being held for the very first time. This was only for children in Year 6. Representing Askam were Hannah G. and Ryan Cl. Hannah used her height to good advantage, and jumped well to finish sixth out of fourteen. Ryan was on top form, and managed to secure a silver medal by finishing as runner-up in the boys' event, where he was competing against thirteen other boys. Very well done to him!

It was a very successful competition for Askam pupils, and both Mrs. Warwick and Mr. Cairns enjoyed seeing Askam children perform to such a good standard. Congratulations to everyone who participated for school.

Askam and Dane Ghyll Draw in Rugby Contest

It finished all-square after a passionate encounter between Dane Ghyll and Askam, in a rugby match held on Tuesday 17th. June. After 30 minutes' play, it was 5 tries a piece, and this reflected the equal balance of the game. There was lots of good rugby on show, with strong, talented players in abundance from both teams.

Mr. Cairns would like to thank the Deputy Head of Dane Ghyll for refereeing at short-notice, allowing the fixture to go ahead. Thanks also to the parents who gave lifts, and to Mr. Jackson for his input. The Askam team consisted of the following players: Ryan Cl., Ryan Co., Cameron, Luke W., Bradley K., Mark, Jevon, Luke B., Dayle, Bradley B., Kieran O. and Jack.

Declan and Emily are Sports Day Champions!

Declan and Emily finished as Top Boy and Top Girl respectively after another successful Sports Day, held in chilly and blowy (but thankfully dry) conditions on Tuesday 17th. June. Declan finished on 17 points, ahead of Luke W. who was second on 14 points. Emily finished as top-girl on 14 points, helped by a remarkably strong run in the Long Distance race where she won by some considerable margin. It is quite unusual for a Year 5 pupil to take the title, so well done to her. Congratulations to both Declan and Emily, and well done to all the children for making the day both exciting and fun.

Askam Play Superbly in Inside-Out Soccer Gala

The Askam teams that played in the Inside-Out gala held at Chetwynde School can hold their heads high after great performances. Askam entered two teams, one in the lower juniors, and one in the upper juniors. The competition took place on Saturday 14th. June.

The Upper Junior team consisted of Luke W., Mark, Bradley B., Emily, Kieran, Bradley K. and Ryan Co. Mr. Cairns looked after these players, and he was extremely impressed with the ability and attitude of the team. Although a number of "key" players were unavailable, Askam played very well indeed to reach the Semi-Finals. The team defeated Chetwynde 3-0, then lost to St. Columba 1-0 after an unlucky deflection, before winning their last group game 1-0 against a team that, until Mr. Cairns remembers, remains a mystery.

In the Semi-Final, Askam met George Romney. This was a close contest, and was indeed a draw at full-time. During "Golden Goal" extra-time, George Romney scored to give them a narrow victory. Very well done to the above players!

Mr. Reid look after the lower juniors, who did even better! They topped their group, to reach the Semi-Final against George Romney (?). It was a draw after extra-time, and so it went to a penalty shoot-out which Askam won. This gave the boys a richly deserved place in the final. Here they met Chetwynde, who had won the previous weekend's gala by several goals. To Askam's great credit, although they lost to a slightly stronger team, Chetwynde only won by a solitary goal. There is obviously lots of talent in the lower juniors, and they will make their way into the school's first team in time. Many congratulations to James, Luke, Kyle, Adam, Keir, Daniel and Lian. Thanks to Mr. Reid!      

Girls Joint Winners of Football Shield

The Askam girls were joint winners of the Girls' League Shield for the third consecutive year, after a thrilling draw against George Romney on Friday 13th. June! Despite being goalless after approximately fifty minutes, the match was of very high quality, with excellent play from both teams. Defences from Askam and George Romney were rock-solid. Chances were few and far between, but both goalkeepers could be depended on when called into action. A draw was a fair result, and both schools made the decision not to go to penalties after extra-time and instead to share the shield.

Very well done to the Askam girls, who played some superb football. A special mention to Katie, who is shaping into a first-class player, and will be an ‘A’ team regular next year. Another little mention for Tamara, who stepped in at very short notice (about one hour's notice!) and was very good indeed in defence, along with the highly dependable Leah. All the other Askam players showed great touch, and Mr. Cairns was very happy with the eventual result. Rebecca had a shot well-saved by the George Romney goalkeeper. Emily had two good shots, one that went wide and one over. The match was played in an excellent spirit. Congratulations to Hannah, Leah, Tamara, Allie, Emily, Katie, Rebecca and Danika. To be joint-winners for three consecutive years is an impressive achievement!    

Orienteering Group Come Joint First!

Eight pupils from Askam Village School took part in the Cluster Orienteering Competition held at Dowdales School on Thursday 12th. June. Four boys and four girls represented Askam. Luke W., Luke B., Declan and Ryan C. were the boys and they finished with a total of 12 points. Emily, Allie, Danika and Sophie S. made up the girls' team and they also finished on 12 points. In an extraordinary turn of events, all three schools entering finished on 12 points for both boys and girls, making it a three-way tie. Mrs. Winter had no other option put to pick out a school from a hat, and Ireleth came out for both the boys and the girls.

Miss Merritt and Mr. Cairns were impressed with the standard of orienteering from the Askam children, despite the lack of practice beforehand. Well done to the eight individuals!

Girls Play Well in Kwik Cricket Competition

The annual Girls' Kwik Cricket Competition took place at Dalton Cricket Club on Tuesday 10th. June. Askam fielded a team in this, and the girls played very well over the course of the day. Askam won two matches and lost two matches. Although they did not progress to the Semi-Finals, Mr. Cairns was very impressed with the bowling, batting and fielding throughout the day. Every single Askam girl bowled properly, which is a great credit to the players as many others bowled underarm.

Askam won their first match, which was against . Askam narrowly lost to Dalton St. MAry's. They then lost to Black Combe School, before defeating George Romney in a consolation match.

Well done to Niamh, Ebony, Emily, Ellie, Allie, Hannah, Madeline, Jade F. and Danika.

Askam Put on Great Display at Gala

Askam had about forty children representing school on Sunday 8th. June. The school entered two Upper Junior Football teams, two Lower Junior Football teams, and two Netball teams! After the initial challenge of sorting out kits, it was a thoroughly good day and enjoyed by all.

The Upper Junior boys played well, and although they did not progress, both teams put in good displays. The Year 4 team nearly made it through, just losing out on goal-difference. The Year 3's were also great. Mr. Cairns will try and find out precise results and add more details on another day. Thanks to Mr. Reid and Mr. Satterthwaite. Well done to all the players.

The Netballers played very well. The ‘A’ team can be particularly pleased at defeating St. Columba who had drawn against Chetwynde. Unfortunately, the girls couldn't quite make it to the Semis after losing to Chetwynde in a tough draw, but Mrs. Warwick was very pleased with both teams' performances. A special thank you to Mrs. Warwick for all her Netballing input over the years- this was her final tournament, so thank you, thank you, thank you, Mrs. Warwick. 

Cricketers Reach Quarter-Finals

The Askam Kwik Cricket team reached the quarter-finals in the annual gala held at Furness Cricket Club on Thursday 22nd. May.

The school played three games, and opened their campaign against Ulverston St. Mary's. This was a very close match, in which Askam just sneaked victory by four runs. Askam finished on 275, and St. Mary's on 271. Next came St. James's from Barrow. Askam comfortably won this match. St. James's finished on 204 after some excellent fielding and bowling from Askam, and Askam batted very well to amass a score of 81 to finish on 281.

This put Askam through to the Quarter-Final where they met South Walney. It was a close match. Despite playing well, Askam lost by ten runs. On a positive note, it meant that the team could hot-foot it round the corner to Hawcoat Park for the Rugby competition!

Well done to Joe, Declan, Niamh, Jade F., Ebony, Dominic, Ryan Cl. Ryan Co., Cameron and Bradley B. Thanks to everyone who gave lifts.

Rugby Team Reach Semis

The annual Tag Rugby Union Gala took place at Hawcoat Park on Thursday 22nd. May. The organisation of this event from school's point of view was complicated by the fact that the Kwik Cricket Competition was also taking place at the same time! Mrs. Clegg was kind enough to look after two teams. Mr. Cairns has no idea of the scores, but he does know that both teams did well. Indeed, Askam's second team, boosted by the presence of some of the returning cricketers nearly made it through themselves. Askam ‘A’ just missed out, but put on a great display. Well done to both teams: Ryan J., Callum, Emily, Dayle, Leah, Sharna, Nathan, Jevon, Luke B., Kailym, Kieran, Mark, Bradley K. and Jack. The squads were then boosted when Declan, Ryan Co. Ryan Cl. Dominic, Joe and Cameron joined in. Congratulations to both teams.

Swimmers Excel in Qualifying Gala

The top Askam Village School swimmers put on an excellent display in the annual Barrow Schools' Swimming Association qualifying gala on Wednesday 21st. May, and are sure to feature heavily in the Finals on Wednesday 25th. June. Swimmers from Year 3 to Year 6 powered their way to success.

The Boys' Medley relay saw Askam coming second, with Bradley, Luke R., Jack and Dominic all swimming well. This was a particularly good result as one of the school's top swimmers, Luke W. was on holiday. In the equivalent event, the girls also did well, finishing third overall. Niamh, Dayle, Rebecca and Amy swam for school.

James, from Year 3, is clearly going to feature in future swimming competitions. He swam an excellent 26.43 to win his Freestyle event. Unfortunately, James will be on holiday during the final and will be unable to participate. Congratulations to him. Abigail finished 4th. in her race, and swam very well.

Onto Year 4, and it was no surprise to see Luke R. powering home to victory with a time of 19.72- this is an excellent time in the 25 metres freestyle for someone so young. His classmate, Lydia, also swam well and either finished second or third- it was very close!

It was also close in the Year 5 Boys' race, and Jack finished either third or fourth. Dayle was also on good form, and finished second. Kate finished third in the breaststroke. Rogan came fourth in the backstroke- well done to both of them. Some debate over the girls' backstroke, but Courtney would seem to have sneaked victory- congratulations to her. Her time was 24.53.

In the Butterfly events, Askam had a Year 4 boy representing school. Luke R. did well to come either second or third out of five. Niamh was on fine form for school in the girls' race, and finished second with a time of 19.15.

Next came the Year six events. Dominic swam very well to finish second in the boys' freestyle. His time was 40.73. Amy was strong in the girls' freestyle, finishing third with a time of 45.63. The boys' breaststroke saw Ryan Cl. finish fourth, but then Askam started a tremendous run- beginning with Niamh comfortably winning the Girls' 50 metres Breaststroke (47.74). This was followed by Bradley's emphatic win in the Backstroke (42.03). Mrs. Hrynkow put in her notes "by a long way!" The winning form continued with Rebecca's equally convincing win in the girls' backstroke (39.40). Mrs. Hrynkow put ditto in her notes, so clearly Rebecca also won by quite some margin!

The two final events saw Askam coming second on both occasions- the Boys / Girls Freestyle relay, with times of 120.60 and 122.20 respectively.

The school awaits who has qualified for the finals.

Thank you to Mrs. Hrynkow who filled Mr. Cairns's shoes as he was interviewing. Thanks also to Mrs. Kavanagh for timing. Many thanks to everyone who helped transport the children.      

Rugby Team On Top Form Against George Romney

Askam's rugby team put on an excellent display against a strong George Romney side, winning 10-4 overall. The school dominated the match. Askam passed very well and tackling was good. There was plenty of strength in depth. A special mention to Declan who was making his debut performance, but looked more like a seasoned pro. With his head held high, his running and strength were both impressive, and he deservedly got on the score-sheet. A special mention too to Dayle from Year 5, the only girl on the pitch. She also scored a fine try, and then got injured as a result. The usual players were all excellent- Ryan Cl. Ryan Co. Luke W., Cameron, Joe, Luke B., Dominic, Nathan, Mark and Bradley K. Apologies if anyone has been missed off this list. It was an exhilarating match, and both Mr. Cairns and Mrs. Roberts were very impressed. Well done, everyone! A re-match at George Romney (and at Dane Ghyll) will be organised for after Whit. 

Thanks as ever to Mr. Jackson. Also thanks to Mr. Satterthwaite and the referee.

Girls Reach Second Football Final!

The Askam girls' football team have reached a second final having put on an excellent performance against a strong team from Greengate on Friday 9th. May.

Askam and Greengate have had a real tussle in the league. The two schools finished on identical points and equal goal-difference. Both schools defeated Dane Ghyll 5-0 and Sir John Barrow 3-0, and when they met each other, the score was a stalemate 0-0. Left with no alternative, the schools arranged a play-off to determine who would meet George Romney in the final, and this was held at a neutral venue- Dane Ghyll School in Barrow.

Askam impressed right away. Despite playing uphill in the first half, they created plenty of chances. Emily shot just wide, and Katie also came very close to breaking the deadlock. Askam's defence was solid, and the midfield players bossed that part of the pinch, not giving the opposition any chance to attack the Askam goal.

Askam made full use of playing downhill in the second half, mainly due to goalkeeper Hannah's excellent power-kicks which threatened the Greengate goalmouth on numerous occasions. Askam were creating chance after chance. Again Katie went close. Another opportunity saw the ball come back off the post. Eventually, Askam took one of their chances, as the strong and committed Rebecca touched on the ball past the despairing keeper. It was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

Askam had most of the possession in the second half. They made sure that the strong Greengate player Lucy could not threaten the Askam goal, which was extremely well protected by Leah and Danika. Emily has the ability to be seemingly everywhere at once, and once again was highly influential in this match. A special mention to Sharna who stepped in at short-notice. She is not shy and has great touch- definitely one for the ‘A’ team next year. Mr. Cairns was impressed with Rebecca, Allie and Katie, all of whom had turns upfront, and all looked threatening on the ball.

Overall, this was a very good display. Askam now meet George Romney in two separate finals, the dates of which are still to be arranged between the two schools. Very well done to all the girls.    

Boys Play Well in Tournament

The Askam boys put in a spirited performance in the annual six-a-side Dick McIntosh Trophy held on the Thorncliffe playing fields on Tuesday 6th. May.

Askam had three matches to play in their group, and began their campaign against a strong Newbarns team. The boys created plenty of chances, but it was Newbarns who were the eventual winners, winning 1-0.

A great fight-back ensued in the match against local rivals George Romney. The Dalton school went into a two goal lead, before Askam hit back with a well taken goal by Kailym. Askam never gave up, and their hard-work was rewarded with an equaliser shortly before the end, to make the final score 2-2. This was a particularly good score-line for Askam, as George Romney were the eventual winners.

Askam's final group game was against Holy Family. The boys were fully in control, winning by six goals without reply.

Although Askam did not progress beyond the group stage, they can take heart from their good performance. Congratulations to Declan, Bradley K., Luke W., Cameron, Ryan Cl., Joe and Kailym. Thank you to Mr. Shepherd for his coaching of the boys, as Mr. Cairns was stuck in another meeting until about half-way through the tournament. 

Year Fives Win Frank Ryan Shield! 

Pupils from Askam Village School won the Frank Ryan Shield after a sensational performance at Holker Street on Friday 2nd. May. The purpose of the competition was to give the younger players a chance, and the selected squad certainly rose to the occasion.

Askam's first match was the Semi-Final, after qualifying on Tuesday from their group. They played Newbarns, the largest Primary School in Cumbria. This was a very close match indeed. Askam took the lead in the first half, courtesy of a fine finish from Year Five's Kailym, but Newbarns retaliated in the second half to level the score. It was a nip-and-tuck game that could have gone either way. Askam nearly snatched it at the death, but Luke's shot went agonisingly wide. Extra time ensued, and still the deadlock could not be broken, so the dreaded penalty shoot-out ensued. Kyle performed heroics in nets, stopping a total of three penalties. Danny converted the winning penalty to give Askam a place in the final, the school winning the shoot-out 3-2.

The final was against Dane Ghyll. Askam put pressure on the opposition right from the whistle, and it was no surprise to see them taking the lead, once again through super-finisher Kailym. Askam were definitely stronger in the first half. The second half was closer and Daniel P. made a couple of excellent stops in goals, but Askam retained their lead and could have extended it further. As it was, Askam were more than happy with the final 1-0 score-line, and the squad celebrated their trophy-winning performance.

The winners' shield was presented by Neil Doherty, one of the directors at Barrow Football, together with the competition organiser, Mr. Gerry Holland. Captain Joe collected the shield, and the team then posed for photographs. Askam are the only school to have won the shield twice; the school also won it in the competition's inaugural year in 2002.

Very well done to all the players. Daniel P. and Kyle both shared goalkeeping duties, and both put in excellent performances. Joe and Emily were rock-solid in defence, with very little getting past either of them. The rest of the team tended to rotate during the matches. Luke had excellent vision and is a definite future-star. Danny D. showed great touch and lots of skill. Kailym demonstrated his speed and nimble footwork on lots of occasions in his upfront role, and did extremely well to score his two goals. Ryan J. was a great addition to the squad and had a very good game.  

Thanks go to the competition organisers, the Dowdales referees, Mr. Satterthwaite for coaching the players during the matches, and any other parent who helped in any way. All these players can look forward to many successful games for Askam next year, so congratulations to everyone. 

Girls Give Their Best in Cup Competition

The Askam Girls' Football team gave it their best shot, but unfortunately did not progress into the Semi-Finals in a competition held at Holker Street on Wednesday 30th. April. The school should have had four matches to play, but actually only had three due to one school not showing.

Askam's first match was against Greengate. The girls played very well, and had several chances to score, but just could not find the back of the net. Askam came closest to scoring, and almost scored right at the end. It was a similar story against St. Pius. Askam had the lion's share of the possession and lots of scoring opportunities. Much credit must go to the St. Pius goalkeeper, who made several impressive saves to deny Askam. St. Pius had one chance and scored from it, despite Tamara's valiant efforts. The girls' final match was against George Romney. This was an evenly fought game, and could have gone either way. In the event, the girls lost by a solitary goal.

Askam were without the influential Sophie S. from Year 5 who was ill, but well done to Emily, Hannah, Tamara, Allie, Rebecca and Leah.

A match to determine who progresses into the league final will be played against Greengate next week, and the girls have got a cup final against George Romney to look forward to. Mr. Cairns is completely confused as to when this is going to be taking place, but has been trying to contact the organiser.

Year Fives Qualify for Frank Ryan / David Callister Finals!

A combination of players from Years 5 and 4 played some superb football to reach the Semi-Finals of the Frank Ryan / David Callister Shields. The team, consisting of Luke R., Daniel P., Joe S., Emily B., Kailym S., Ryan J. and Daniel D. had three matches to play. The players had the privilege of playing on the Barrow turf at Holker Street. The team won their first game comfortably 5-1. Against St. Columba, the match was a 0-0 stalemate. The final match saw Askam win 4-1. Askam had a superior goal difference to St. Columba who had also won two and drawn one- thus it was Askam that qualified for the Semi-Final- and hopefully the final- to be played at Holker Street on Friday 2nd. May.

The boys (and Emily) played very well indeed, and good reports reached Mr. Cairns who was locked away in a staff meeting. Thank you to Mr. Metcalfe who represented school, and all the parents who assisted with coaching. Good luck to the players on Friday!

Askam Girls Defeat St. Columba

The Askam Girls' football team maintained their unbeaten run with an excellent 2-0 win over St. Columba on Monday 28th. April to give them a place in the Knockout Cup Final on a date still to be arranged against George Romney. The visiting team had a good reputation, but Askam were stronger on the day. Emily scored for Askam in the first half, and Allie doubled the lead in the second half. Mr. Cairns was very impressed with the whole team. Congratulations to Leah, Hannah, Sophie So., Allie, Amy, Danika, Emily and Rebecca.

Meanwhile, Askam ‘B’ put on a great performance against St. Columba ’B’. The Askam team consisted of a mixture of experienced Year Six players and some younger players getting their first taste of competitive play for school. Jordann from Year Six scored twice, Georgia from Year four scored once, and Mr. Cairns has left his sheet at school, so will have to fill in the rest later- but the final score was 6-1 to Askam, so the team certainly played very well! Well done to Laura, Jordann, Jade F., Katie M., Georgia, Nicole and Tamara.

Mr. Cairns thinks that he will have a superb girls' team next year.

Luke and Emily Excel in National Final!

Luke W. from Year 6, and Emily from Year 5 represented both Askam Village School and the County of Cumbria in the National Individual School Table-Tennis Finals held at Doncaster on Saturday 26th. April. Both Luke and Emily qualified for the finals after becoming County Champions at Under 11 level earlier in the year.

Each opponent that the two pupils played was a County Champion in their own right, so the standard of opposition was very high. Emily got off to a sensational start. She played Nicole Dodd from Nevil Road in Greater Manchester. She won 11-3, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7. Her next match was against Katie Wilson, and this was closer. Emily played very well to win in five ends- 11-6, 8-11, 8-11, 11-6, 11-4. Emily's next opponent was Edwina Kinlocke. She cruised to a 11-2, 11-7, 6-11, 11-6 win. Next, Emily met the Number 3 seed, Chrissie Slot. It is a mark of Emily's ability that she took Chrissie so close. Although ultimately losing in five, she played very well indeed. Emily lost 8-11, 12-10, 8-11, 11-4, 6-11. Her final group game was against Phoebe Foster. Emily won this in four, 12-10, 11-9, 9-11, 11-8. This gave her a place in the quarter-finals where she met Victoria Yuong. This was an amazing game of the highest quality- two top players going head-to-head. Emily shot into a two game lead, 11-8, 12-10, but Victoria Yuong fought back well to level it 2-2, winning 11-8, 11-9. The last game was nip-and-tuck, and at one stage 9-9. In the end, Victoria just sneaked across the finishing line first giving her a Semi-Final spot. Emily, however, finished in the top eight in England, and deserves much credit for her attitude and performance. It should also be remembered that she is a year younger than many of her opponents, and will get another crack at it next year.

Luke can also be very proud of his performance. He was a little nervous at first as he is not used to big table-tennis competitions. It took him a while to get into his stride, but when he did, he played some superb table-tennis. Luke had a baptism of fire as he had to begin his campaign against the Number 3 seed, Sam Maley. This was far from a one-sided encounter. Luke ultimately lost 6-11, 9-11, 3-11, but played really well. His next game was against Daniel McTiernan. This was an exceptionally close match, and one that Luke was unlucky to lose. He had gone into a 2-0 lead (11-8,11-5), but was pegged back to 2-2 (8-11, 8-11) before Daniel defeated him 11-8 in the deciding end. Luke also went into the lead in his next game, his opponent being Jamie Lunn. Luke won the first end 11-8, but Jamie fought back to win the next three ends 11-6, 11-2, 11-6. Luke settled, and then started to play to his true ability. Luke took on Thomas Wildman, and comfortably won 11-9, 11-8, 11-7. His excellent form continued into his last group match, where he met Jacob Barber. He won by more than a whisker, defeating Jacob 11-3, 11-4, 12-10. Luke had defeated two County Champions, and he can be rightly proud of that achievement.

with both pupils, and they were excellent representatives of the school. The next day Emily represented the North-West of England and won all her matches- the only player in the North-Western Squad of six to do that.

Very many congratulations to both Luke and Emily. The school is very proud of both pupils.

Rugby Team Impress!

It's not often Askam Village School plays a tackling rugby match, but the boys who played against Dane Ghyll on Friday 25th. April certainly rose to the occasion. Many play Rugby for Askam, and a couple for Barrow Island- so the standard produced by the school team was always going to be high.

Mr. Cairns was in Doncaster, but a number of staff (Mrs. Warwick, Miss Merritt, Mrs. Roberts) enjoyed the spectacle and reported back. They were full of praise for the Askam youngsters, who romped to a 10-5 victory against a strong Dane Ghyll team. There were some outstanding performances, with the two Ryans from Year Six being particularly impressive. Mr. Jackson said the game was very physical, but played in a good spirit. There was some strong tackling. Askam played extremely well, so much credit should go to Ryan Cl., Ryan Co., Cameron, Bradley K., Joe, Kailym, Dominic, Luke B., Joe, Nathan, Ryan Jo., Mark and Jevon. Congratulations boys.

A rematch is being arranged to be played at Dane Ghyll.

A big thank you to Mr. Jackson for coaching and for organising the referee, not to mention doing all the training, and thanks also to Mr. Satterthwaite who helped, and to any other parent who assisted in any way!

Netballers Reach Quarter Finals!

The Askam Netballers played in the annual championships held at Chetwynde School on Saturday 19th. April. Playing for the ‘A’ team were Rebecca (Captain), Danika, Ellie, Hannah, Ebony, Emily and Jade F. Playing for Askam ‘B’ were Niamh (Captain), Tamara (also Captain), Jade S., Naomi, Indea, Caitlin and Madeline. Both teams played very well, and both Mrs. Warwick and Mr. Cairns were impressed with the passing and general movement. The ‘A’ team reached the quarter final after winning through on goal difference from St. Columba. They lost to Chetwynde in the Quarter Final, but Rebecca did score a well-deserved goal. Congratulations to both teams, and thank you to Mrs. Warwick and Mrs. Reid. Mrs. Warwick is going to send Mr. Cairns the actual scores, so these can be added here.

Footballers Continue Winning Streak

The Askam girls maintained their unbeaten record this academic year with an impressive 3-0 win over Sir John Barrow School (Ulverston) on Wednesday 16th. March.

Their opponents were strong and determined, and Sir John Barrow had some talented players amongst their ranks. However, Askam have a very, very good squad of players from which to choose, and the match's team-sheet was another strong one. Askam had a lot of possession, and the majority of the play was in the opponent's half. The Ulverston School deserve credit for some great tackling- they were certainly not shy. Askam's passing and movement were better, and the school's experience of the game was clear.

It was midway in the first half that Amy M. scored with a fine kick that was unstoppable. Askam had already come close, and on one occasion hit the post. It was 1-0 at half-time.

In the second half, Hannah doubled Askam's score with a fine finish, and Emily added a third shortly afterwards with a well-taken goal. This made the final score 3-0 to Askam. It could have been more were it not for some good goalkeeping and some impressive defending from Sir John Barrow.

The final score was an accurate reflection of the match. The Askam girls played very well, and have now qualified for the next round of the cup. Very well done to Hannah, Leah, Emily, Sophie, Amy, Danika and Allie. Good luck in the next round!

Swimmers Finish Sixth in Barrow Area

Both the boys and the girls swimming teams from Askam finished sixth out of twenty-one in the Winter League. This is a very good result considering the number of schools that entered and the fact that all the Year Six swimmers were away on their Residential visit during the final session. The boys' squad consisted of Bradley K., Luke W., Ryan Cl., Dominic, Luke R., and for the last week, Jack N., Kristian and Rogan. The girls' squad was made up of Rebecca R., Niamh, Amy, Dayle, Courtney and, for the last week, Emily and Katie M. Very well done to all the swimmers this season!

Terrific Performance from Askam Runners!

It was definitely a highly-successful afternoon of running for the children of Askam Village School. Twenty-four pupils represented Askam in the annual Dowdales Cluster Cross-Country championships which took place after school on Monday 14th. April.

The lower juniors ran first. This was a challenging distance for children who are only in Years 3 and 4. First past the post for Askam was Jake S. who ran a superb race to finish third out of 85 runners. Next home for Askam was Kia S. who performed extremely well to finish 5th. Katie M. from Year 4 put in a super performance. She did particularly well as not only did she finish an excellent eighth overall, she also had the distinction of being the first girl to finish - a real achievement! Lee I. ran a great race, and finished 16th. Daniel D. was a highly commendable 22nd., followed closely by Alex who came home in 27th. place. Sharna was the second girl to finish for Askam, and finished 29th. One place behind was Adam, followed closely by Leah in 42nd. Callum C. from Year 3 was 50th., and Andrew, also from Year 3, was 57th. Georgia was 63rd. and Joe was 67th. Robyn was 79th. and Campbell was 81st- well done!

With impressive finishing positions from the top four pupils, it meant Askam's lower juniors finished first overall out of all the schools in attendance. Very well done to all the runners!

The upper juniors had their endurance tested to the full by having to complete a daunting two laps of the circuit. There were sixty-two runners in this. Luke W. ran incredibly well to finish third overall. He was first home for Askam. Sophie S. ran tremendously well to finish seventh overall but, better still (like Katie) she was the first girl to cross the finishing line. Very well done, Sophie! To have the winning girl in both the lower and upper juniors is a great achievement. An impressive race from Declan saw him finish in 13th. place. Bradley K. ran well to finish 18th., and Emily was just one place behind in 19th. Ryan Cl. was 26th, and Allie was 28th. Kai was 30th., and Dayle was 40th. Well done!

After the results had been analysed, it was determined that the Askam Upper Juniors had finished a very impressive third overall, so very well done to the top four finishers for the school, and everyone who took part.

It was great to see so many pupils participating and finishing the race. Very well done to one and all. Thanks to Mrs. Winter for organising the competition, and thank you to all the PE students at Dowdales for ensuring things ran smoothly. Thank you also to all those offering lifts and helping to look after children.

Girls Triumph Against Dane Ghyll

The Askam girls continued their good form with a comprehensive win over Mr. Cairns's lovely old primary school, Dane Ghyll on Friday 11th. April.

Askam shot into an immediate lead in the first few seconds, with Emily from Year 5 on hand to put the ball in the back of the net. Shortly afterwards, Rebecca extended the lead with a well taken goal, and Allie got herself on the score-sheet shortly before half-time to make it 3-0. Askam bossed the first half and were well in control. Both the passing and movement were good.

Dane Ghyll's half-time team-talk from Mr. Fussell obviously did the trick, and the Hawcoat youngsters were much improved in the second half. They fought for everything, enjoyed a much greater share of the possession than the first half, created some chances of their own, and- much to their credit- never once gave up despite the score-line. For the first part of the second-half, both teams cancelled out one another. There was some impressive last-ditch defending from Dane Ghyll, and the keeper deserves credit for some fine saves. However, the breakthrough did come, and the talented Leah from Year 4 made it 4-0 with a well-taken drilled shot. With a couple of minutes to go, the ever-dangerous Emily controlled the ball, took it into space and fired an unstoppable shot to make the final score 5-0. 

Although they had little to do, Hannah and Tamara looked comfortable in nets. Leah, Jade and Tamara (and Hannah when she swapped with Tamara) controlled defence very well. Emily, as ever, was everywhere, scored a brace, and looked dangerous every time she touched the ball. Sophie made some crunching tackles and played very well. Katie from Year 4 certainly looks one for the future. She played with confidence and composure, and showed very good touch. Rebecca was very strong indeed. Her determination to continue fighting for the ball was very evident, and she thoroughly deserved her goal. Allie looked lethal up front, and enjoyed a very good game, also getting herself on the score-sheet.

These were two quite youthful teams. Dane Ghyll's side consisted entirely of Year 5s, and Askam's team was made up of two Year 4s, two Year 5s and the rest were from Year 6.

Mr. Cairns then enjoyed a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Oh, how it has changed! He remembers many sporting fixtures with a great deal of fondness. Askam School would like to thank Dane Ghyll for the warm welcome.

Very well done to all the girls.

Askam Win Rugby Gala!

Askam are the Dowdales cluster Tag Rugby champions after an excellent performance during the afternoon of Thursday 10th. April.

A staggering 28 pupils from the school played rugby during the afternoon, including many who had never played before. Askam had submitted three teams into the competition, and they had to play three teams from George Romney- this school were the only other school in the cluster to enter.

Askam ‘A’ won all their matches, although there were a couple of tight games. Highlights included a narrow win over Askam ‘B’ and a hard-fought 6-5 win over George Romney ‘A’. But they did enough, and played really well to take the title, which gives them qualification into the Barrow Finals to be held at Hawcoat Park in late May. In the ‘A’ team were Ryan Cl., Ryan Co., Cameron, Bradley K., Nathan, Dayle, Emily, Luke, Jevon and Joe. Very many congratulations to all the above players.

Also playing really well and racking up try after try were the other two teams. Playing for school were Callum from Year 3 (who looks a real star for the future), Ryan Jo., Luke B., Kieran O., Luke R., Laura, Jade F., Allie, Leah, Sophie Se., Kailym (looks a natural!), Devon, Bradley B., Jack, Dominic, Mark, Rebecca and Sharna. Both Mr. Jackson and Mr. Cairns were extremely impressed. Mistakes were few and far between. Everyone enjoyed themselves, and it was a great afternoon of rugby union.

Thank you to Mr. Jackson and all the parents who transported- getting 28 children to Dalton during the day takes real team-work, so thank you, thank you, thank you. Also thanks to the Dowdales staff and referees, as well as the organiser, Martin Grealish.   

Netballers Share Shield!

The Askam Netball team put in a great display in a competition held at Chetwynde School in Barrow on Thursday 10th. April. After four seven-minute matches, the score remained 4-4, and it was agreed to share the shield! Danika was captain, and she was joined by Rebecca, Hannah, Emily, Ellie, Jade and Ebony. Hannah, Ebony and Rebecca got themselves on the score-sheet. Very well done to our Netballers!

Boys Impress in Barrow Island Cup Fixture

Despite losing 3-1, the Askam boys' football team can hold their heads with pride after a fine, encouraging display in Round Two of the knockout cup competition held at Barrow Island on Thursday 10th. April.

The boys got off to a great start with a well-taken goal after just a few seconds, courtesy of captain Declan. The first half saw chances for both teams, but the score remained 1-0 to Askam going into the break.

The second half was also very well balanced. The Barrow Island goal led a charmed life. Askam had some excellent chances to extend their lead, but it was the opponents who soon levelled and indeed went on to score two more goals. Still Askam created, and were unlucky not to equalise. Askam hit the cross bar and several chances went agonisingly wide.

Mr. Cairns was very impressed with the attitude of all the boys. They kept on battling hard, and there was some excellent skilful play on show. Luke was superb in nets. He was well supported by Ryan Cl., Ryan Jo., Cameron, Devon, Declan, Joe, Kailym, Daniel and Bradley. Well done to all the boys!

Askam Pupils Strike Gold at Finals' Night

Emily from Year 5 and Luke from Year 6 had a very successful evening on Finals' Night, held at Barrow and District Table-Tennis Centre on Friday 14th. March.

Emily had qualified for the Top 5 Competition as a result of finishing third in the Division 1 averages. Along with Luke, she played in a round-robin competition against the other top players. Emily lost her first game to a Year 8 boy- Oliver Shipley- from St. Bernards, but she then hit form, winning against Adele Bassett (Year 8) 3-0 and Emma Smith (Year 11) 3-0. Her best win was against Luke. Here, the County Under 11 Girls' champion, met the County Under 11 Boys' champion. Emily took the first end, but Luke responded well to level the score. However, Emily's hitting was just too good and although Luke was defending well, Emily was striking the ball so hard and using the angles so well, Luke was being forced into the error.

Luke was also playing well. He was involved in two tough matches in which he managed to come out on top. He defeated Adele in five and Oliver in five. Luke managed to win against Emma three-straight. Although losing to Emily 3-1, it meant that both players finished on three wins and one loss. In those circumstances, the organisers go on the head-to-head encounter, which Emily won. She was therefore crowned Division 1 Top Five winner. For a Year 5 pupil to be the winner from a group of children aged up to 16 is very impressive indeed- Emily was the youngest participant in the league.

There was, however, consolation for Luke. As well as claiming the runners-up trophy for the Top-Five Competition, he left with something of a trophy-haul. Luke was the Division 1 averages winner, with an excellent 96% over the season. In fourteen fixtures, and 28 matches, Luke was only defeated once. Quite an achievement! In addition to this, Luke also walked away with the Division 1 title trophy which he won with Ebony. Luke had partnered Ebony, also from Year 6 at Askam. Both had played very well over the season, and the classmates won the title by four points. They were one of the youngest teams in the league, so very many congratulations to Luke and Ebony!

More details about Finals' Night can be found on the Latest News page. In addition, the final averages, tables and reports from Division 1 from the Friday Night Junior League can be found here.

Swimmers Continue Winning Streak!

More success for the Askam swimmers in Week 5 of the Winter League. The boys swam very well to finish second overall- so congratulations to Luke W., Dominic, Ryan Cl. and Bradley K. Reserve swimmer Luke R. also won his race. Well done, boys! The girls went one better by finishing first overall. Congratulations to Rebecca, Niamh, Amy and Dayle.

Table-Tennis Team Win Award!

The Under 11 Askam Girls' Table-Tennis team have won the Performance of the Month award for their match-winning performance in the Northern Regional Finals in February which gave them a place in the prestigious National Final. The award, by Barrow Sports Council, will see the team presented with a cheque for £50 and a special certificate. The prize is courtesy of Furness Heating Components in Barrow. The Evening Mail will be there to capture the occasion. Congratulations to Ebony, Emily, Amy, Hannah and Jade, who beat off stiff opposition to land the prize. The photograph will take place on Thursday 13th. March, 4.30pm at Furness Heating Components' shop in Abbey Road, Barrow.

Gymnasts Shine in Festival

Five gymnasts from the Infants at Askam School took part in a Gymnastics Competition at Chapel Street in Dalton on Thursday 7th. March. Georgia S., Natalie H., Abbie O., Francis B. and Charlie S. represented their school for the first time, and everyone is very proud of them all.

The four girls and one boy took part in a competition against lots of other schools, and performed very well to finish fifth overall. The children had to complete a routine, and they also took part in a vaulting competition. Miss Pritt was delighted with their performance.

The girls looked extremely smart in their burgundy leotards, and were the envy of many of the other schools!!!!

Well done to Charlie, Abbie, Francis, Natalie and Georgia, and thank you to Miss Pritt for all her hard work over the year. These children will be able to compete again in future competitions, and have certainly got the basic skills which will allow them to develop into highly competent gymnasts.

Rugby Team Races to Victory

The Askam rugby team played their first matches of the year on Thursday 7th. March in a friendly tournament held at Victoria Junior School in Barrow. A squad of twelve were selected for the nine-a-side Tag Rugby tournament. Askam won all their matches, and won the overall competition. This was just a practice event, but it steers the team in the right direction for the annual tournaments coming up shortly.

Congratulations to Ryan Cl., Ryan Co., Jevon, Bradley K., Mark, Nathan, Luke R., Cameron, Joe, Ryan J., Luke W., and Kieran O. According to reports, all played really well, and there will be plenty of candidates from which to choose come the proper competitions.

Mr. Cairns would like to say thank you to Mr. Satterthwaite and Mr. Jackson, as he was doing Parents' Evening. Thanks for looking after and coaching the boys.

Swimmers Continue Winning Ways

The Askam Swimming teams are on top form of late. Over the last two sessions, the boys have finished first and second respectively, and this feat has been repeated by the girls. A little over a week ago, the boys' team consisted of Bradley, Luke W., Dominic and Ryan. On Wednesday, Luke R. replaced Ryan. The boys were up against quality opposition, finishing second only to Chetwynde. It was the same story with the girls. Rebecca, Dayle, Amy and Courtney swam just over a week ago and finished first, and last Wednesday, Niamh replaced Dayle. Again, the girls were up against Chetwynde and they swam very well as a team to finish second. Both the boys and the girls must be competing for the runners-up spot in the Winter League, as both teams have been on sparkling form. There are two sessions left, the last of which will be made up of almost entirely new squad members, as Year Six will be on their residential visit.

Netballers Enjoy Comfortable Victories  

The Askam Netball team took part in a mini Hi-5 Tournament at Dalton St. Mary's recently. It is fair to say that Askam dominated proceedings, with significant wins in both their matches. Askam played Dalton St. Marys and won 22-0, and defeated Ireleth 7-0. The team was on top form and put on a highly accomplished display. Congratulations to all the players. 

Askam Pupils Pull Off County Double!

Saturday 23rd. February was another proud day in the history of Askam Village School as Luke from Year 6 became County boys' table-tennis champion at Primary School level, and Emily from Year 5 also became County girls' champion in the equivalent competition. Both pupils played outstanding table-tennis on the day, with neither dropping a single end. It is only the third time the school has managed to do "the double", so many congratulations to both pupils. Both Emily and Luke now represent their County in the National Final at Doncaster in the Spring.

Emily managed to win through to the Year 8 and Under final as well, defeating a pupil three years her senior on route for the first time. Luke also played well in the boys' Year 8 and Under competition, eventually getting knocked out at the Quarter-Final stage.

Many congratulations to both Luke and Emily on this wonderful achievement.

Also playing well and representing their school were Amy, Hannah and Jade. Well done to Hannah, who finished third overall.

Mr. Cairns has yet to receive the score-sheets from Saturday, so can't write an official report, but one will follow in the near future. Also expect a picture on the picture site.

Congratulations again to the two County champions and to all those pupils from Askam Village School who took part. More details coming soon!

Askam Girls Draw With Greengate

The Askam girls' football team played their first fixture of 2008 on Thursday 7th. January. Greengate were the visitors. The weather stayed fine and, despite the tremendous amount of rain recently, the pitch was in surprisingly good condition.

Hannah played in nets, Ebony and Leah in defence, Emily and Danika in midfield, Allie up front, and Amy, Jordann and Laura rotated between midfield and playing upfront.

The match was close throughout. Both teams had chances. Askam had plenty of possession. Tackles were in abundance, and there was no shortage of dedication from both teams.

It was Askam who took the lead, through the battling qualities of Allie. Her "never give up" attitude put pressure on the goalkeeper and defence of Greengate, and her efforts were rewarded with a goal midway through the first-half.

Almost immediately, Greengate equalised with a thunderous strike that was unstoppable. At the break, it was honours even, and the match was set up nicely for the second half.

Askam got off to a great start after the interval. The girls recently bossed proceedings for the first five minutes and pegged Greengate in their own half. Allie nearly gave Askam the lead again with a good strike, but unfortunately it came back off the post. The team's persistence was rewarded, however, when Allie struck the ball sweetly past the despairing Greengate goalkeeper to make the score 2-1 to Askam with about five minutes to go.

At this point, it looked as though Askam might sneak victory, but there was a sting in the tail, as Greengate took advantage of a loose ball, and one of their players fired a fierce strike late-on to equalise.

This was how the match ended, and Mr. Cairns thinks a 2-2 draw was a fair reflection of the balance of play. It was a good, evenly fought contest, in which both teams played well.

Hannah was good in nets, making a number of important stops, including the prevention of a near own-goal in the second-half. Both Ebony and Leah excelled in defence, and were very dependable. Emily and Danika bossed midfield, with some fearless tackles and good runs from both players. Allie was excellent upfront, getting a brace of goals, and nearly scoring a third. Amy, Jordann and Laura all impressed in their rotation between midfield and being upfront.

The Girl of the Match award went to Allie.

All the team played well, and are looking forward to several fixtures coming up after the half-term holidays. Thanks to James Harrison from Dowdales. Well done, everyone.    

Swimmers Excel at First Winter League Meeting

Eight swimmers represented Askam Village School in the first of six Swimming meetings, held at Park Leisure Centre in Barrow on Wednesday 6th. February.

The boys kicked off proceedings. Bradley K., Dominic, Luke W. and Ryan CL. made up the team. The four swam a great race, and comfortably finished second against a high standard of opposition. There were six schools in the race.

The Askam girls also finished second, just missing out on victory by the narrowest of margins. Representing the school were Rebecca, Niamh, Amy and Dayle. All swam well.

Mr. C. was impressed. Both teams should do well over the duration of the league. The next meeting is the first Wednesday back after the half-term holidays. All the swimmers have received details about who is swimming and on what date.

Well done everyone!

Askam Girls Reach National Final!

Askam Village School is celebrating following victory in the Northern Regional Table-Tennis finals at Blackburn on Sunday 3rd. February. The Under 11 Girls' team, consisting of Ebony, Emily, Amy, Hannah and Jade, won all three of their matches against schools from across the North of England, and have secured a place in the prestigious National Finals, to be held at Hinckley on Saturday 1st. March.

The girls played brilliantly, and Mr. Cairns is very proud of them all. It is recognition for the hard-work they have all put in to their game through regular practice.

Everyone is looking forward to a weekend away, including the exciting prospect of a day off school to travel down to the host town. They are staying in a posh 4**** hotel, complete with swimming pool for two nights, and that has generated much excited chatter!

A full report (it took Mr. C. almost two hours!) can be found on the Latest News page at this site.

Thanks to all the supporting parents. Thank you also to Jade for once again being a super-sub, and never complaining about not playing- you're a star. Many congratulations to all five girls. The very best of luck to them all at the National Final!

Askam are North-West Zone Champions

More success for the girls' table-tennis team as they became North-Western Zone Champions after representing their County on Saturday 19th. January at St. Bede's R.C. High School.

Ebony, Emily, Amy and Hannah played some brilliant table-tennis to clinch overall victory. They played against other County Champions, and won 6-2, 8-0 and 5-3. The only really close match was against Nevill Road, Greater Manchester. This one went to the wire, and was nail-biting stuff! Hannah fought back exceptionally well from 2-0 down, to clinch victory 3-2. Emily played some great table-tennis to beat talented Nicole Dodd 3-1. Ebony dug deep and held her nerve extremely well to also beat Nicole, after going 2-0 down. She played exceptionally well, especially towards the end of the match. Amy just lost-out in this match, but secured important ends. She played very well indeed, and had a match point in one of the games.

All four girls won matches on the day. Emily and Ebony went undefeated. This is all highly commendable when one considers the children were playing against the top teams in the North-West of England.

Jade was Askam's super-sub, and even though she knew she was unlikely to play, this did not deter her from coming along as the school's official supporter. In the event, Jade did see some action, playing as she did against the number Fives from two schools. She is very much an improving player, and despite losing 3-0, 3-1, this progression in her game was very evident. Thanks to Jade for being part of the occasion.

A full report will appear on the Latest News page once Mr. O'Flynn has forwarded me the other results from other local schools participating on the day.

In the meantime, many congratulations to the four girls, who progress onto the Regional Final in Blackburn on Sunday 3rd. February. A place in the National Final is the prize for the winners on the day.

Askam Girls are County Table-Tennis Champions 

The girls' table-tennis team are champions of Cumbria for the eighth time in ten years after a solid winning performance in the straight final against St. Columba. Mr. O'Flynn has the scoresheet which makes commentary difficult at present, but he promises to send it through to Mr. Cairns and then a more detailed report will follow with scores, etc. EDIT: Report is on the Latest News page.

In a nutshell, both Ebony and Emily won all four of their matches without dropping an end. This is an impressive statistic. The St. Columba number 1, Robyn, is a talented player, so the two girls did well to win so comfortably. Amy can count herself unlucky. She just lost both of her matches in five. These games could not have been closer. If, however, the final score-line had been a draw, then the four individual games Amy won would have almost certainly gone in Askam School's favour. After a nervous start, Hannah put on a classy show and managed to win both of her matches. Both the games were close, but Hannah dug-deep and got her reward. A great achievement! Both St. Columba and Askam had an extra player. For Askam, Jade F. was making her debut, and she put in a commendable performance. Although she did not win, Jade showed real improvement and took individual ends off her opponents. Well done! The final match score was 6-2 (6-4) to Askam, and the girls now go through to the North-West Zone Final in late January. Very many congratulations to Ebony, Emily, Amy, Hannah and Jade!

The boys can count themselves a little unlucky to finish third. Their performance deserved more. Askam played Holy Family, and the boys drew 4-4. This was the same score-line when Holy Family took on the boys from St. Columba. Luke, Bradley B., Ryan Cl. and Ryan Co. played ever so well. Unusually, even though the final score was 4-4, all eight matches went to only three ends. Luke won both his matches comfortably. Ryan Cl. defeated Jake, as did Ryan Co. With both Askam and St. Columba drawing 4-4 with Holy FAmily, the outcome of the match between Askam and St. Columba would determine who would be crowned County Champions. Mr. Cairns has no score-sheet, but once again Luke won both his matches. Bradley also won the last match in a great five-setter. Very well done to him! The final score was 5-3 to the boys from Walney. At least two of the games Askam lost were really close and could have gone either way. A special mention to Luke. He was the only undefeated boy on the day- and that is an achievement worthy of recognition. He stands a good chance of doing very well indeed in the Individual Championships at Kirkby Stephen in early March. The two Ryans fought very well for every point, and continue to progress at the game. Ryan Cl. did well to play at all with an ankle injury restricting his movement. Very well done to Luke, Bradley, Ryan Cl. and Ryan Co.

Boys Reach Final After Superb Football Display

The Askam boys put on a tremendous display to finish as runners-up in the final rounds of the annual Indoor 5-a-side football tournament, held at Barrow Sixth Form College on Wednesday 21st. November. The team had reached this stage courtesy of a group-winning performance a few weeks earlier, where they topped the table. This sent the boys into the Quarter-Final stage.

Seven pupils represented the school in what was definitely a youthful team. Three Year Sixes, two Year Fives and two Year Fours made the squad. Luke W. was to be in nets, with Declan in defence and the other players rotating.

Askam met St. Columba in the quarter-final stage. It was a good game that started off very evenly. It was not long, however, before Askam took the lead thanks to a fine goal from Declan. He quickly added a second with his deft touch to make the final score 2-0.

In the Semi-Final, Askam met St. Pauls. This was the team that won the competition last year. Askam got off to a dream start thanks to a great goal from Bradley K. which was scored after just a handful of seconds from the half-way line. Bradley hit the target again a short while later to make it 2-0. St. Pauls then scored, before Askam once again extended their lead. No surprise as to the identity of the goal-scorer; it was Bradley who fired in the goal. An excellent hat-trick. St. Pauls quickly responded, and soon pulled back a goal. Right at the end, they scored again to make it 3-3. Extra time ensued, but the deadlock could not be broken. The dreaded penalty shoot-out followed as a result. Worse still, it was sudden-death! Askam took the first penalty. Kailym drilled his shot into the right-hand corner. It was an excellent, unstoppable penalty. Up stepped the St. Pauls player, knowing he had to score to keep his school in the competition. Unluckily for him, he fired his shot wide. Askam had their place in the final.

Here, they met an extremely strong team from Victoria Junior School. They were all Year Six players, and it has to be said they were very talented. Askam gave it their best shot, and adjusted the line-up to make it a little more defensive in view of their opponent's goal-fest record in the previous games. It was not enough, however, to stop the opposition scoring seven. However, the boys deserve great credit. They progressed further than last year's Askam team, and this is a younger set of players. The school is delighted to have reached the final in a competition entered by virtually every school in the Furness area.

The boys played extremely well. Goalkeeper Luke W. looked as though he had been playing in that position for many years, rather than the few games he had actually played. He put on a superb display, and kept Askam in the games with some outstanding saves. Luke also gave Askam an advantage with his sensible throw-outs, which managed not to put the team under unnecessary pressure. Declan, as ever, was exceptional. He bossed defence, making many last-ditch tackles. Declan also advanced forwards when he could, and got an impressive brace of goals in the first game. Kailym is a fearless player and a real battler. "Determined" is Kailym's middle name. And what a penalty! Both Luke R. and Daniel are in Year 4, but put on a display beyond their years. They tackled and passed well, and deserve a lot of credit for their accomplished display. Year Five pupil Joe shone throughout. This young man has a talent for the game, and is a great all-rounder. Bradley was a defender's nightmare and was a constant threat. His finishing was excellent. This was confirmed by his brilliant hat-trick in the Semi-Final against quality opponents. Well done! 

Very many congratulations to all the boys. Askam Village School would like to thank Gerry Holland and both the referees (a difficult job). Well done to Victoria Junior School.

Dowdales Win Athletics Competition

Pupils from the local Dowdales cluster schools are getting quite a reputation in this annual event, as the Secondary School were crowned champions again... thanks to their local school pupils putting in a winning performance.

Two pupils from Askam were selected to represent Dowdales in the event, held at Barrow Sixth Form College on Sunday 18th. November. The pick of Year 5 pupils were on show. Also representing Dowdales were children from Dalton St. Mary's, George Romney and Lindal schools. The youngsters had a tough act to follow. The girls had won the event, in which all the local Secondary Schools submit teams (Thorncliffe, Alfred Barrow, St. Bernards, Walney, Parkview and Dowdales) for the last two years, and the boys had won it last year as well.

Emily and Dayle, both from Year 5 at Askam, certainly played a part in the success of the team. Both Dayle and Emily helped Dowdales to be first in the Obstacle. The two girls also impressed in the Long Jump, with Dayle jumping 1.65 metres, and Emily 1.78 metres. Dayle did well in the vertical jump, and Emily's throwing arm was on form in the javelin. Both put on a winning display in the 2x2 sprint, finishing comfortably first.

These results, combined with those from the other children representing Dowdales, put the Secondary School in a strong position. Dowdlaes finished first in the girls for the third consecutive year, and the boys also topped the order for the second successive year. Naturally, this meant that Dowdales were once again the overall winners. Congratulations to Dayle and Emily, as well as the other children representing their local Secondary School. As a result of this, Dowdales (including Emily and Dayle) will represent Barrow in the Cumbria Youth Games held in the Spring.

Well done Emily and Dayle. Thanks to Mrs. Winter, Mrs. Cook, all the Dowdales helpers, Anne Shuttleworth and the other organisers.

Netballers Shine in Match

The Askam girls put on a superb display against experienced opposition on Wednesday 14th. November, as the school welcomed Dane Ghyll. The ‘A’ team were on top-form and won by a sizeable margin: 13-1. Passing and movement were excellent. Shooting was very accurate and the girls showed lots of good anticipation. Defending was also top-notch. Mrs. Warwick was very impressed and stated that she felt a number of players could play at a more advanced level in the future.

The ‘B’ team also impressed. Despite losing narrowly 5-3, the girls played well and showed lots of potential. Once again, Mrs. Warwick was very happy with the result and the way everyone played.

Congratulations to all the players from both teams. The ‘A’ team consisted of Hannah G., Ebony, Emily, Rebecca R., Jade F., Danika and Ellie. For the ‘B’ team, Askam had Madeline, Tamara, Jade S., Caitlin, Indea F., Niamh and Naomi S. playing, as Laura was injured.

Askam Girls Finish 4th. in County in Football Finals  

The absence of two key players from the Askam Girls Football team did not stop the school from reaching the last four and playing really well in the County Finals. These were held at Whitehaven on Saturday 10th. November. Askam had qualified as a result of winning the North Lonsdale tournament earlier in the term.

The top nine teams in Cumbria met to decide who would become County Champions. Askam found themselves in a group with Nelson Thomlinson, St. Columba and last year's winners- Inglewood.

Askam's first match saw them meet Nelson Thomlinson- a school from the Carlisle area. The school got off to a great start thanks to a good goal from striker Danika. In the second half, Year 5 pupil Sophie S. coolly added a second before the opposition pulled back a goal somewhat against the run of play. However, Askam continued to push forwards, and were rewarded with a well-taken goal from Amy. The final score was 3-1 to Askam.

Next came local rivals St. Columba. The two teams met in a friendly in September, and the match ended in a 0-0 stalemate then, and this was to be no different. The match was evenly balanced. Both teams played well, with Robyn from St. Columba being a constant threat. Askam created chances too, but a draw was a fair result.

The final group match saw Askam take on the County Champions of 2006/7- Inglewood from Carlisle. This was the team that the girls met in the final last year at Dalton. Inglewood had beaten Askam 4-0 on the day (but Mr. Cairns still remembers the Askam "goal" that never was after the ball had got clogged up in mud on the line)- and now was a chance for revenge. But teams are County champions for a reason- this school provided opposition of a very high quality. They were led by a talented number 8, who had looked a threat after they'd defeated St. Columba by two goals to one. In the end, Inglewood were a little too good, but only won 1-0- and Mr. Cairns was pleased with this result.

This put the outcome as to who progressed into the Sem-Finals into doubt. It all went to the final group match, with St. Columba taking on Nelson Thomlinson. As it stood, Askam had a superior points difference, as Askam had put three past this school. If the Walney girls could score a couple, they would go through. St. Columba bossed the match throughout. They had numerous chances to score in the first half, but somehow went into half-time with the scoreline still at 0-0. Early in the second half, St. Columba deservedly scored... but they needed another goal, and time was not on their side. Despite being in total control, the second goal would not come, and the final score was 1-0.

As a result of this, Askam had a superior goal difference, and went through to the last four for the second time in two years. The Semi-Final saw Askam meet Inglewood again. The Carlisle school got off to a tremendous start and were 3-0 up before half-time. Askam were much better in the second half, and started to threaten the opponent's goal. No further goals were scored, and so Askam went through to the third-place play-off, where they met another school from the Carlisle area in the shape of Newlaithes. There were a few very talented girls in the line-up Askam faced. Although Askam can have no complaints about the 2-0 final score, this was a good game and was well contested by both teams.

So Askam were 4th. The school is rightly very proud of this achievement, as once again Askam have done extremely well in a County football final. The boys were County Champions last year, and the girls were County Runners-up, so for the school to be fourth out of all the schools in Cumbria (and there are many who have female football teams) is a great credit to the school. Askam Village School progressed further than every other South Cumbrian School.

Out of interest to those who were there but left before the end of the final, Inglewood and Newlaithes fought a titanic battle to decide who would be crowned champions of Cumbria. The two teams were very evenly matched, and at full time the score was 0-0. Extra-time was played, but the scoreline still remained the same, so the dreaded penalties decided the outcome. It was very difficult for both teams as conditions suddenly became extremely windy, and the ball would not remain on the penalty spot! In the end, Inglewood won and retained their title, so congratulations to them.

Needless to say, Mr. Cairns is very pleased indeed with fourth place, especially as some seasoned campaigners were unable to play. Laura and Tamara took it in turns in nets and both made some important saves. Leah plays beyond her tender years- she is only in Year 4, but has good vision and plenty of battling qualities. Jade slotted into defensive duties very well, and made several good clearances. She took a turn in midfield during the last match. Although unwell, Sophie played and fought for everything. She topped off a great performance with a well-taken goal. Emily controlled everything to her normal high-standard, and shrugged off an injury to help create numerous chances. Allie was outstanding. Despite being injured twice, she made important challenges and went on a few inspired runs- with one in particular being absolutely superb. Both Danika and Amy had excellent games upfront. The two girls got on the scoresheet and were a constant threat.

Well done to all the girls from Askam. Thank you to the parents who transported and supported. The school would like to thank Jericho School, Gerry Holland and the referees.          

Lower Juniors Put on Great Display

The lower junior boys showed class beyond their years in two football matches held at Askam on Friday 9th. November. St Columba were the opponents, and conditions were far from ideal. The light was fading quickly, it was cold, windy and there were a few sharp showers. Despite this, the Askam boys put on a great display for all the parents watching.

The Year 3 boys from Askam played against the Year 3 boys from Walney. A few of the home school's players were making their debut for Askam- a warm welcome to Owen, Callum and Andrew. Askam had lots of possession in the ensuing match and created numerous golden opportunities to score. However, the ball would just not go in the net and St. Columba took the lead in the second half. Askam continued to create lots of chances, but just couldn't convert one of these into a goal. Credit must be given to the Walney goalkeeper, who made a string of impressive saves.

For Askam, Jake looked like a natural goalkeeper in the making. James was excellent in defence. Owen, Callum and Andrew all rotated and impressed, taking turns in defence. Lee and Keir controlled midfield and fed the upfront players very well. Lian showed lots of great skill and touches with the ball.

This was a very evenly fought match. The Askam boys were a credit to their school and showed lots of potential. Well done to them all, and thanks are due to Mr. Davies for looking after this team.

Meanwhile, Year 4 were also in action. This was also a very open game. Askam opened up the scoring in the first half thanks to a very well taken goal from striker Daniel, who scored his second goal for school in as many days. Shortly afterwards, St. Columba equalised. The boys kept battling and searching for the winner. Their efforts were rewarded during the second half, courtesy of a thunderous strike from Kyle which the Walney goalkeeper managed to get a few fingers to, but could only tip it onto his post- from which the ball went into the back of the net. Askam created to push forwards and looked solid in defence. A strong midfield was the key. All the boys impressed. Kyle started off in nets and looked well in control. Joe controlled defence very well. He was well supported by Jordan in the first half and Kyle in the second half. Luke showed great vision in midfield. Adam pushed up on numerous occasions and showed very good touch. Alex is developing into a good player and he played well in defence. Daniel was his normal lethal self up front, and is a natural striker.

Very well done to all the boys in this team. Thank you to Mr. Reid for coaching this team.

Thanks to the Dowdales referees- James Harrison and Jordan Rayner.

Congratulations to both teams. In the New Year when the nights are a little lighter, Mr. Cairns will set up a match with Dane Ghyll. 

Askam Impress in Mini-Tournament

The youngsters from Askam can hold their heads high after an impressive performance in a friendly Year 5 tournament held near the BAE Sports Club ground on Thursday 8th. November.

Three schools were battling against one another in bitterly cold conditions with an icy wind adding to the brrrr factor! To begin with, Askam played St. Paul's. The quality of soccer from the Askam players was extremely high. Passing was slick, tackling was strong and the team looked like a formidable opposition. Daniel scored for Askam towards the end of the first half with a well taken goal. This is how the game finished.

George Romney then played St. Pauls. The Dalton team were physically stronger in every department as well as being skilful with the ball. George Romney ran out as comfortable 3-0 winners.

The final game was, in effect, the final, with Askam taking on their near neighbours George Romney. In the opening period, there was nothing to separate the two sides. However, George Romney used their extra strength well and their impressive play restricted opportunities for Askam. It was not long before George Romney scored, and quickly followed it with another two. At 3-0 down, Askam could so easily have given up, but the "Never Say Die" attitude prevailed, and Askam fought hard to claw their way back into the game. Their efforts were rewarded after a long-range effort from Kailym was too good for the Dalton keeper. With Askam playing downhill and the wind now behind them, there was renewed confidence in the Askam players. Despite this, little could be done to stop George Romney adding a fourth. They were deserving winners, but Mr. Cairns thinks the Askam players deserve plenty of credit for a strong and encouraging performance.

Luke R. looked good in nets. Emily was an excellent addition to the squad (defence). Kailym put in a spirited performance- well done to him for his goal. Joe looked impressive in centre. Daniel threatened up front- congratulations to him on his goal. Ryan J. had a great game, and this will be the first of many for school. Also impressing was Devon. He showed good touch and a keen eye for the ball.

A big thank you to the George Romney teacher for volunteering to referee all the matches! Congratulations to all the boys and Emily.

Boys Top Group in Five-a-Side Tournament

The boys from Askam put on a winning display in the annual Joe Humphreys indoor five-a-side tournament held at the Sixth Form College in Barrow on Wednesday 7th. November.

The team, consisting of two Year 4 players, two Year 5 players and three Year 6 boys, had two opponents in their group. Their first match was against George Romney. This was a hard-fought game and one that ultimately ended in a stalemate 0 - 0 draw.

Next, came Greengate. Askam were the dominant side. Declan, despite playing in defence, ventured forwards from time to time or shot from range. The latter is what happened with the first goal- a quality strike from just inside Askam's own half. Declan soon added a second, and then a third, before coming off due to an injury. Joe put away a penalty to make the final score 4-0 to Askam.

This gave Askam a difference of +4, and the school comfortably won the group. As a result of this, Askam will play in the Finals on Wednesday 21st. November, commencing at 3.45pm with the venue once again being the Sixth Form College.

Luke W. was excellent in nets and managed very well with the rules unique to five-a-side football. He was extremely well protected by Declan. Congratulations to him on his hat-trick. Luke R. was strong in midfield. He passed and tackled well. Kailym impressed throughout. Mr. Cairns noticed how well he tackled against opponents of a greater size. Joe was excellent- well done to him for putting away the penalty. Daniel is rapidly turning into a great player- full of confidence and ability. Bradley looked dangerous upfront and played very well. Mr. Cairns was particularly impressed with his second match.

Congratulations to all the boys!

Boys Win Against George Romney!

The Askam boys put in a great performance against George Romney to win 3-1. This home match took place on Friday 2nd. November. The first ten minutes or so were very tight, and the half looked destined to end in a stalemate. A minute before half-time, Declan took control of the ball, and fired into the net to give Askam a 1-0 advantage going into the break.

George Romney created chances in the opening period of the second half. Solid defence from Declan and Luke R., combined with some excellent goalkeeping from Luke W. kept the Dalton team at bay... at least until George Romney snatched control and slotted home past Luke to make it 1-1.

All credit to the Askam boys- they kept up their heads and played positively. When Kieran found himself in a good position and coolly placed it in the corner, it was no more than the home-team deserved. The Askam defence were able to soak up any pressure from George Romney, and the players still managed to create a number of chances to further extend their lead. Indeed, one of these was taken by the talented Bradley K. It was an unorthodox goal, but all credit to him for being in the right place at the right time and showing good vision. Askam nearly made it 4-1, but the boys were unlucky as the ball hit one of Askam School's players when it was destined to be in the back of the net.

This was a very impressive display all-round, and one that Mr. Cairns would describe as a "solid performance". Most pleasingly, Askam looked strong in all positions. Luke looked comfortable in nets. He handled and kicked very well. Declan bossed in defence, and he used his experience very well. He was assisted by the talented Luke R.- two years his junior. Luke made some good challenges and several important clearances. Askam also bossed midfield, with Joe on great form, Kailym showing a tireless appetite for the game, and Daniel impressing with his touch. Bradley looked dangerous upfront and converted one of his chances, as did Kieran- who is improving with every game and showing lots of potential.

Finally, a positive note looking towards the future. Today's team consisted of four players out of eight who can play again next year- and two of these have two more years at Askam School. There's plenty of talent for the future, and these boys will be backed up by some very promising youngsters in the lower juniors. 

Very well done to all the boys! That's the end of the league matches for now, but there are three matches to play in various competitions next week.

Askam Runners Do School Proud

Nine pupils from school rose to the challenge of competing in a cross-country competition held at Walney Secondary School on Thursday 1st. November. All the runners did well, but particular mention must go to Sophie S. and Allie from Year 6, as well as Emily from Year 5. More about them later!

The Year 6 boys ran first, and had to complete two laps of the field. This is a far greater distance than one might imagine, and is a true test of stamina. The race was actually 1600m. Mr. Cairns managed to find three runners for this event: Luke W., Ryan Cl. and Bradley K. All three boys ran excellent races. First home for Askam was Luke, finishing in a very strong 11th. place out of a field of over 80 runners. Bradley was just one place behind in 12th.- a great effort. Ryan finished soon after in 37th., and did very well to complete this distance. Congratulations to all the boys!

Next, came the Year 6 girls' race, and this was the same distance. Unfortunately, there were no willing volunteers to accompany Sophie and Allie, which meant that the school could not enter as a team, but the girls could enter as individuals. Both Sophie and Allie ran exceptional races. Sophie finished a highly-impressive third, and Allie was also a strong finisher, by crossing the line in fourth place! Sophie secured a bronze medal. Better still, both Allie and Sophie have qualified to represent Barrow in the County Finals at Kirkby Stephen in January. This is excellent news- so congratulations to both girls.

The Year 5 boys and girls ran together, and had to run one lap of the field (800m). Emily again showed what a talented girl she is by finishing in fifth place overall (out of about 100 runners) and was the second-placed girl. This secured her a richly deserved silver-medal. Kailym was the sole boy from school. He ran very well to finish 17th. Close behind was Dayle. She ran a good race to finish in 30th. place overall (Mr. Cairns is unsure what position in the girls she came), and Rachel was also a credit to her school, finishing 55th. (again, because it was mixed, Rachel would have come far further up the order if only girls' results were taken into account, but as these were not specified, it's impossible to say what position she would have come in this). Well done!
 

A big "Well Done!" to the girls from Ireleth School who won the competition overall. This is a great achievement.

Congratulations to all the boys and girls from Askam, and the best of luck to Allie and Sophie in January!

Askam Boys' Football Team Get Nominated for Award!

Both the boys' and girls' football teams had incredibly successful seasons last year, and the boys from last season have been short-listed for the Barrow Borough Sports Council Junior Team of the Year award. This is the third time that the school has been nominated, but this is the first occasion that it has been for football.

The boys from last year gave the school its most successful season in its history. They became North Lonsdale champions and went on to become County Champions in Carlisle in late 2006. They represented their County in the Zone Finals in Blackburn in early 2007. The boys also won the local league and cup competitions, taking their trophy haul to four. In addition, they also reached three other finals in other competitions.

Askam will be up against other top teams from the local area in the prestigious ceremony which takes place at Barrow Town Hall on Friday 16th. November at 7.30pm (for 8.00pm). The mayor and mayoress will hopefully be in attendance, and it is sure to be a memorable occasion. Tickets are priced at £2.00 and are available by contacting Chris Athersmith on 01229 828898 or by e-mailing cathersmith@barrowbc.gov.uk  

Congratulations to all the players: Declan, Andrew, Josh, James, George, Jack, Christopher, Matthew, Jason and Calum. The very best of luck at the ceremony!

Battling Boys Secure Draw

The boys' football team earned a richly deserved draw against Dalton St. Mary's in an away match on Thursday 18th. October. The team was minus an absent Daniel, so Kieran from Year Six stepped in at short notice to save the day.

The boys did not get off to the best of starts, and were soon two-nil down. However, once they had found their feet and got a feel for the game, the Askam youngsters began playing much better, and it wasn't long before they converted their dominance into goals. Declan scored from a free-kick, and Bradley K. hit the back of the net to make it 2-2. Joe managed to knee in a chance to make the score 3-2 to Askam. In the last few moments, Dalton St. Mary's scored to make the final score 3-3. The game was well balanced, so this was a fair result.

Congratulations to Luke P. (Year 5) in nets making his first appearance in the squad this season. Well done to Luke R. (Year 4), Kailym (Year 5), Joe (Year 5), Declan, Bradley K., Kieran and Ryan Cl. (all Year 6). Mrs. Roberts said the attitude of the boys was excellent and she enjoyed being team leader! Thanks to her, and any parents who assisted.

Askam's next game is against George Romney (see above), and there is a 5-a-side Year 5 indoor football tournament imminent. 

Boys Fight Back Well Against Croftlands

The Askam boys took on a strong and talented Croftlands team in a home football match held on Friday 12th. October.

The boys were outplayed in the first half. Croftlands were defensively strong, and passed the ball extremely well. When coming forward, they came in numbers and- crucially- could generally keep possession. Their sweeping movements up the pitch yielded much joy for the Ulverston team, and Croftlands were 6-0 up after 15 minutes, and strolling.

A little bit of tweaking took place at half-time, and in the second half, Askam were a different team. The play was balanced in terms of possession, and really for the first time, Askam began to create chances. The second half was a stale-mate, and the Askam boys deserve great credit for not conceding any more goals to a strong and probably older and more experienced team. Luke W. played well in nets, and Kieran, Luke R., Mark and Ryan Co. (all of whom had time in defence) impressed with their defensive skills. Declan pushed further back in the second half, and showed excellent touch as usual. Joe, recovered from an injury, together with Daniel and Kailym, showed good levels of skill and got into the game much more in the second half.

Most pleasingly, the Askam heads never dropped, and they continued to give their all until the final whistle. Team managers always look for improvement during a match, and Askam boys definitely achieved this. Very well done to all the players. Thanks to Jordan Rayner for refereeing the game.

More Success for Boys!

The boys' football team continued to go from strength to strength as they carved out a fine 3-2 victory against Sir John Barrow School. This match took place in pleasantly warm and sunny conditions at Askam Village School on Thursday 4th. October.

The team consisted of nine players of varying experience. The ages of the players ranged from Years 4 to 6. Representing Askam were Luke W. in nets, Luke R., Daniel, Kailym, Bradley B., Bradley K., Declan (Captain), Ryan J. and Devon. The boys were on top form in the first half, creating several chances. Although Declan missed a penalty, he made no mistake in putting away two fine goals for school. A third goal was expertly headed in by Daniel after an inch-perfect corner from Kailym. The second half saw more pressure from the Ulverston School. They pulled back two goals, and there were a few nervy moments towards the end. However, Askam held on, and deserved their win. The team played very well, and should be congratulated for both their performance and the manner in which they played the game. Very well done to all the boys.

Double Joy for Askam Pupils! 

It was a clean sweep for the children of Askam Village School, as they scooped both the boys' and girls' trophies in the annual Dowdales Top Link Festival. This was held at Dowdales School on a mild and dry Tuesday 2nd. October.

The school entered two teams in each competition. This enabled 25 children to participate on the day, and allowed children of all abilities to take part- something which all the school considers to be very important. The boys' competition was for lower juniors, and the girls' competition was open to any Primary age.

The boys ‘A’ team consisted of Kyle in nets, James in defence, partnered with Lee, Keir and Luke R. in midfield, and Daniel upfront. There was some rotation during the matches. Their first match was against Lindal. The players quickly got into their stride. Daniel and Luke scored one-a-piece for Askam, to give the school a 2-0 win. Next came George Romney. The boys were on top form in this match and in full control. Daniel had an outstanding game for Askam, scoring all five of the goals in the convincing 5-0 win. He was very well supported by all the other team members. The third match was dubbed "the Battle of Askam", as the ‘A¹ team took on their school friends from the ‘B’ team. This was a close match, and there was very little to separate the two teams. Keir and Danny scored twice, together with a goal from the ‘B’ team to make the final score 2-1. The last match saw the Askam boys take on Burlington. Keir got on the score-sheet again, and Daniel got a brace to take his tally to nine in four matches (well done!)- with Luke adding two goals, this made the score 5-0 to Askam. The boys had topped their group and won every match. They were presented with the winners' shield- the first time since 2002 that Askam had won the competition. Congratulations to all the boys.

The girls ‘A’ team consisted of Hannah in nets, Rebecca and Leah in defence, Emily and Sophie in midfield and Danika and Amy taking it in turns to play upfront. Askam's first match was against Lindal and Marton School. The girls played very well. They quickly racked up an impressive tally of four goals, with a hat-trick coming from Emily, and Sophie sealing the fourth. Next came George Romney as the opposition. Mr. Cairns thought that this would have been closer, but the girls were in control of proceedings. The final score was 3-0. The first two goals came from Emily again, and the third from Danika. Askam ‘A’s toughest match was actually against their ‘B’ team friends. The final score in this game was 2-1 to the ‘A’ team, with Emily adding yet more goals (2), and Shana getting one back in reply. Askam's final match was against Burlington. Emily needed to be put on a lead, so she went in defence. Rebecca, now playing up front, scored the first goal. Emily broke free and scored the second. Amy scored the next, and then Burlington scored a well-deserved goal. Hannah (now playing out of nets) added a fourth, Danika got a fifth, and somewhere in the match, Leah scored a goal, to make the final score 6-1. This meant the girls' easily topped their group. The trophy was presented to them. This was the first time Askam had won the competition in its five-year history. Congratulations to all the girls.

The ‘B’ team boys impressed everyone during the festival of football. What a talented bunch! They started their campaign against Burlington. Playing for Askam were Jake in nets, Jordan and Joe in defence, Alex and Adam in midfield, and Lian upfront. Again, there was some rotation during the matches. Askam managed to score five times in their opening match, with Adam scoring twice and Lian three times, to make the final score against Burlington 5-0. The boys' second match was against Lindal and Marton. In this game, Lian scored all four goals! Well done to Lian. It was then the friendly "Battle of Askam" (as described above!) Although the boys lost 2-1 in this game, they pushed the ‘A’ team all the way, and there was very little separating the boys. Lian was on hand to score yet another goal for Askam. The final match was against George Romney. The opposition was a little stronger, but the boys impressed in every position. The final score was 2-0 to the Dalton team. Despite losing their final two games, the boys finished level on points with George Romney. The all-important goal-difference came into play, and much to everyone's delight, the ‘B’ team secured runners-up position. The boys were presented with their certificates. Congratulations to the Askam boys for their great performances.

The ‘B’ team girls were also in action. Jade played in nets, and Allie, Laura, Katie, Madeline and Shana rotated. The girls' first match was against Burlington. The Askam team played really well, and the final score was 6-0. Shana got the first, Katie the second, Allie the third, Shana got another goal to make it 4-0, Katie added a fifth (and her second), with Maddy making it 6-0. Askam's next opponents were Lindal and Marton. Lindal took the lead with a well-taken goal, but Askam soon recovered. Laura equalised, and Katie scored two further goals to make it 3-1. Laura once again got on the score-sheet to take the score to 4-1, and the victory was complete with Katie on hand yet again to add a fifth. Askam ‘B’ then played Askam ‘A’. This was a very close match, reflected in the score-line. Although the ‘A’ team won, it was a tight match, with little to separate the two teams. The final score was 2-1 to the ‘A’ team. Shana- a bundle of trouble to her opponents- scored the goal for the ‘B’ team. She showed very good control of the ball throughout the competition. The girls' final match was against George Romney. This was another very close match. It ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Askam ‘B’ had played very well, and had racked up sufficient points and goals to secure the runners-up place! The girls were presented with their certificates. Very well done to all the six players- a super performance.     

This meant that Askam had won both competitions and secured runners-up place in both competitions as well. This is a remarkable achievement- so well done to both the boys and girls! The school would like to thank Mr. Reid and Mr. Davies. Thanks also to Mrs. Winter and the Dowdales referees for doing such a good job. Congratulations once again to all the players!    

Shield Glory for Askam Girls!                     

The school's first silverware of the season was won in emphatic fashion by the Askam girls' football team. The girls were playing in the North Lonsdale Finals, held at George Romney Junior School on Friday 28th. September.

This is a strong team, with some experienced players running the show. Askam's first match was against George Romney. Mr. Cairns thought the game would be quite evenly balanced, but Askam were well in control throughout- running out as 3-0 winners. The first goal game from Amy, and two further goals were slotted home by Sophie.

The next match was rather interesting. This was against Coniston. Any idea that this would be a comfortable victory for Askam was quickly thwarted by a hard-working and defensively solid Coniston team. Askam had plenty of chances, but just couldn't convert one of these into a goal. The match finished in a 0-0 stalemate.

Askam's final game was against Dalton St. Mary's. The school's spies had identified the danger player in the starting line-up, and Askam did a good job of marking her to limit opportunities for the Dalton side. Askam enjoyed plenty of possession, and it was not long before Amy scored her second goal of the competition by firing into the net. Shortly afterwards, Emily scored an exquisite goal from distance which must surely rank as one of the Year 5 pupil's finest. There were further chances, but the final score was 2.0.

As a result of this, Askam topped the group with seven points, with Dalton St. Mary's in the runners-up position. The shield was presented to Askam. Rather nicely, this was one school has retained from last year after tying with Our Lady's. Askam girls now go forward to the County Final which this year is being held as Whitehaven (venue to be confirmed) on Saturday 10th. November, commencing at 10.30am. Askam finished as County runners-up last year, so the school will be hoping for a similar level of success in two months' time.

Hannah (Year 6) looked strong in nets, and executed some fine kicks. She was very well supported by both Ebony (Year 6) and Leah (Year 4). It is worth noting that Askam did not concede a single goal in three matches, and these three girls can take a lot of the credit for that. Emily (Year 5) was everywhere and was more of a sweeper than anything! She went into defense as required, but was also upfront creating and taking chances, as well as bossing midfield. She had an impressive team-mate in Sophie S. (Year 5). Sophie is fearless and is capable of running with the ball. Upfront, Amy (Year 6) had a very good game. She listened well, and stayed in position- crucial if an opportunity presents itself. Amy took her brace of goals very well. Danika (Year 6) also impressed. She created havoc in the opposition's penalty area, and deserved to have got on the score-sheet.

The Askam girls will continue working on their passing, but above all will focus on movement- getting into space, losing markers, etc. The team will also work on communication with one another. These will be worked on during practices between now and November.

Very many congratulations to Hannah, Ebony, Leah, Sophie, Emily, Danika and Amy.

The Boys' team were also in action. This was almost an entirely different side from last year's team, with Declan the only player to be still at the school. The Askam boys' team consisted of a mixture of players with different levels of experience. Some were representing their school at football for the first time. In what was quite a youthful team, the players consisted of two Year 4s and two Year 5s, along with five Year 6s.

The boys got off to a great start against George Romney. It was a fairly tight match, but Askam edged it. The boys won 1-0, thanks to a goal from talented Declan.

In their second game, Askam just lost out by a solitary goal to Croftlands. Askam had plenty of chances, but unfortunately couldn't score a goal. Tackling was good.

Sir John Barrow provided tough opposition for the Askam youngsters. Despite losing 3-0, the match was definitely closer than the score-line would suggest. Nevertheless, the Ulverston team deserved their win.

Askam were determined to finish on a high and they did not disappoint. The boys clinched a 1-0 victory thanks to another goal from Declan.

Askam finished third- just missing out on the runners-up place on goal difference. This is a very good result as this is the first occasion the team has played together in its current form.

Cameron's rugby skills came in useful for his stint in nets. He had a safe pair of hands and was an excellent kicker. Luke R. showed experience beyond his years in defense. Declan's trickery was in abundance- a talented footballer indeed. Joe showed he is a very strong and capable player- a solid midfielder. Daniel Davies was strong for Askam and is sure to soon be a first-team regular. Bradley latched on to a number of balls and constantly threatened. Ryan Cl. effortlessly made the transition from rugby to football, and showed plenty of good touch. He is a very fast individual, and naturally sporty. Kailym is shaping into an excellent player. He shows very good ability and covers a lot of ground. Kieran had a very good debut game for Askam, and on one occasion was only denied a superb goal by a wonderful save.

Well done to all the boys!

Many thanks to Mr. Satterthwaite and to Mr. Jackson.

Girls Kick Off New Season in Style

The Askam girls' football team began their season with a thoroughly deserved draw against local rivals St. Columba in a friendly match held at Askam Village School on Friday 21st. September.

Many new players were debuting for school, and all impressed. They will help to shape what should be another very strong team. Although some players will have to rotate, there is no shortage of talent on display.

Askam had the better of the opening few minutes, with the ball mainly in the opposition's half, but then it became something of a stale-mate, with possession evenly split 50-50. Both sides played very good football, with some impressive passing and crunching tackles. Askam are learning that players aren't inactive when other team-mates have the ball- this is something which we will focus on in practices.

The second half continued in the same pattern. Sophie S. from Year 5 had two excellent shots, with the St. Columba goalkeeper making superb saves each time. These were the best two chances of the match. Hannah was untroubled in nets (some great goal-kicks from Hannah), expertly protected by the defensive players of Ebony and Tamara. Sophie and Emily were constant threats in midfield, and their class was clear for all to see. Danika, playing in midfield, has really improved and is a good quality player. Jade, Amy and Jordann slotted into their new upfront positions very well, and were the source of much trouble for the Walney defenders. The final score-line of 0-0 was a fair reflection of the closeness of the match.

Some of the girls will be in action again next Friday at George Romney in the North Lonsdale qualifiers. The boys will also be there.

Thanks to Rebecca Steele for referring the game. Well done to all the players- an impressive and encouraging start to the season.

Matt Bowe Coaches Askam Pupils

Top swimmer Matt Bowe, originally from Barrow, coached the top four ranked Askam Swimmers on Friday 7th. September. The Great Britain swimmer was in town, and several local schools were invited to submit their very best four swimmers to receive expert coaching. Rebecca, Niamh, Amy and Bradley K. were chosen as they had qualified for the finals of the Swimming Gala last Summer. The four children (all from Year Six) thoroughly enjoyed the session. Rebecca came away with a swimming cap after winning a competition to see who could swim underwater the longest! Thanks to Mr. Bowe.